BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] The disclosure relates to a technique for providing a structure that improves visibility
of a door switch.
Description of Related Art
[0002] In a configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, visibility is improved by causing
the periphery of a switch and a switch unit to emit light.
[0003] A switch according to a configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a part
that emits light in a plurality of parts in the configuration of the device to improve
visibility.
Related Art
Patent Document
[0004]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open No. 2017-98111
[Patent Document 2] European Patent Publication No. 14192995
SUMMARY
Technical Problem
[0005] However, when the configurations of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are used,
depending on the size, shape, and installation position of a signal transmitting device
(such as an actuator or the like) used in combination with a sensor part, there is
a concern that the part that emits light may be hidden and that visibility may be
difficult to improve.
[0006] Also, particularly when used in a door switch, the sensor and the signal transmitting
device are usually opposite to each other in a normal state. In this case, even if
there is a place that emits light in a part of the sensor, this place is hidden by
the signal transmitting device, and the visibility is difficult to improve.
[0007] Therefore, it is an object of the disclosure to provide a door switch that improves
visibility of a light emitting state.
Solution to the Problem
[0008] The door switch includes an actuator and a sensor. In addition, the door switch is
installed so that, when a door is closed, a surface of the sensor and an opposite
surface of the actuator are in contact with or close to each other, and when the door
is open, the surface of the sensor and the opposite surface of the actuator are separated
from each other.
[0009] The actuator outputs a detection signal. A display part for indicating a reception
state of the detection signal is formed on the surface of the sensor. The surface
of the sensor has a non-opposite region, wherein the non-opposite region is at least
a part of the display part not opposite to the opposite surface of the actuator in
the reception state.
[0010] In this configuration, even if the display part of the sensor is disposed opposite
to the actuator, the display part has a part not overlapping the actuator. In this
way, the visibility of the display part regarding the opposite state of the door switch
is improved. Therefore, an operator can confirm the state of the sensor from any direction.
[0011] In the door switch, the display part may be formed annularly along at least an outer
edge of the surface of the sensor.
[0012] In this configuration, the installation position of the actuator with respect to
the sensor can be made flexible. Therefore, the operator can easily confirm the state
of the sensor from any position.
[0013] It is preferable that the sensor in the door switch includes a light source part.
In addition, it is preferable that the display part guides light of the light source
part.
[0014] In this configuration, light of a light source part is guided, thereby further improving
the visibility of the display part.
[0015] It is preferable that the sensor in the door switch includes a light guide part for
guiding the light of the light source part to the display part.
[0016] In this configuration, even when the light source part is a point light source, the
light guide part can diffuse light and allow the display part to emit light uniformly.
[0017] It is preferable that the sensor in the door switch includes, on a display part side
of the light source part or the light guide part, a cover part for preventing the
light of the light source part from diffusing to outside.
[0018] In this configuration, even when the light source part is a point light source, the
cover part can hide locally bright parts and reduce unevenness of light emission.
[0019] It is preferable that the sensor in the door switch includes a reflection part on
a back surface side of the cover part.
[0020] In this configuration, even when the light source part is a point light source, light
can be further diffused and the display part can be made to emit light uniformly.
[0021] It is preferable that the display part in the door switch is made of a resin.
[0022] With this configuration, manufacture is easy.
[0023] It is preferable that the cover part in the door switch is made of a resin.
[0024] With this configuration, manufacture is easy.
Effects
[0025] According to the disclosure, a door switch that improves visibility of a light emitting
state can be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door switch according to the first embodiment of
the disclosure.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a sensor according to the first embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a door switch according to the first embodiment
of the disclosure.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a sensor according to the first embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a part of a sensor according to the second embodiment
of the disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
• Applicable Example
[0027] First, an example to which the disclosure is applied will be described with reference
to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a door switch according to the first embodiment.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the door switch 1 includes a sensor 10 and an actuator 20. A
wiring part 30 is connected to the sensor 10 and transmits a signal received by the
sensor 10 to other devices. The wiring part 30 is, for example, a connector, a cable
or the like. Further, a transverse direction of the door switch 1 is defined as a
first direction, and a longitudinal direction of the door switch 1 is defined as a
second direction. In addition, a direction of the door switch 1 orthogonal to the
first direction and the second direction is defined as a third direction.
[0029] First, a configuration of the sensor 10 will be described. The sensor 10 is formed
with a display part 110, a back surface display part 120, and a sensor housing 140.
The sensor 10 is formed with a surface S1, a back surface B1 and side surfaces connecting
the surface S1 and the back surface B1.
[0030] In addition, among the side surfaces connecting the surface S1 and the back surface
B1, a surface opposite to a surface connected with the wiring part 30 is defined as
a top surface T1.
[0031] The display part 110 is formed on the surface S1 of the sensor housing 140. The back
surface display part 120 is formed at a position corresponding to the approximate
center of the back surface B1 of the sensor housing 140.
[0032] Next, a configuration of the actuator 20 will be described. The actuator 20 is formed
with a surface S2, a back surface B2 and side surfaces connecting the surface S2 and
the back surface B2. The surface S2 of the actuator 20 is the "opposite surface of
the actuator" in the disclosure.
[0033] In addition, among the side surfaces connecting the surface S2 and the back surface
B2, a surface on the side of the top surface T1 of the sensor 10 is defined as a top
surface T2.
[0034] More specifically, an example of the relationship between the sensor 10 and the actuator
20 will be described below.
[0035] The sensor 10 includes an RFID antenna (not shown) therein. In addition, the actuator
20 includes a passive IC tag (not shown) therein.
[0036] The RFID antenna transmits radio waves to the passive IC tag and receives radio waves
from the passive IC tag. In this way, an opposite state between the sensor 10 and
the actuator 20 can be obtained.
[0037] Although passive RFID is shown as an example above, active RFID may be used instead.
In addition, although RFID is shown as an example, the embodiments are not limited
to RFID, and any configuration that can obtain the opposite state may be used.
[0038] The display part 110 emits light according to the opposite state of the door switch
1. For example, in a state where a door is open, the display part 110 emits red light,
and to show a state where the door is closed, the display part 110 emits green light.
[0039] Next, an area SR1 of the surface S1 is compared with an area SR2 of the surface S2.
The area SR1 is larger than the area SR2. Therefore, the sensor 10 has a region where
the sensor 10 is not opposite to the actuator 20 (a non-opposite region R1 in the
disclosure).
[0040] A relational expression between the non-opposite region R1, the area SR1 and the
area SR2 is expressed by SR1 = R 1 + SR2. The display part 110 is disposed so as to
include at least a part of the non-opposite region R1. In this way, a user can visually
recognize the display part 110 in the non-opposite region R1.
[0041] As described above, the opposite state can be detected by an opposite distance between
the sensor 10 and the actuator 20.
[0042] In this way, the opposite state of the door switch 1 can be easily recognized according
to a light emitting state of the non-opposite region R1 of the display part 110, thereby
improving the visibility. As a result, a closed state of the door can be reliably
visually recognized. On the other hand, even in an open state of the door, at least
a part of the display part 110 can be reliably visually recognized. Therefore, the
open and close of the door can be reliably recognized.
• Configuration Example 1
[0043] As described above, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the door switch according to
the first embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the sensor according
to the first embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the
door switch according to the first embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 4 is an exploded
view of the sensor according to the first embodiment of the disclosure.
[0044] A more specific configuration example will be described with reference to FIG. 2
based on the functional configuration of FIG. 1 described above. FIG. 2 is an exploded
view showing a configuration of a part of the sensor 10. In FIG. 2, only the main
part of the sensor 10 is shown, and a part of the configuration is omitted.
[0045] The sensor 10 is formed with the display part 110, a substrate 130, and the sensor
housing 140. In addition, the display part 110 and the substrate 130 are formed to
be in contact with each other. The sensor housing 140 covers the substrate 130 and
the display part 110 is disposed on a surface thereof.
[0046] The shape of the display part 110 is formed annularly along an outer edge of the
surface S1 of the sensor 10. In other words, the display part 110 is a structure having
a space H1 in the center. In the space H1, at least one indirect light source 115
is formed. The shape of the space H1 may be a rectangle or an ellipse and is not limited
to any shape as long as the size and the shape of the space H1 can allow the indirect
light source 115 to be formed. The indirect light source 115 is connected to the display
part 110 by a light guide 116. A light guide part in the disclosure is a structure
including the indirect light source 115 and the light guide 116.
[0047] The indirect light source 115 in the disclosure does not have a function of emitting
light but has a function of diffusing light received from places outside itself.
[0048] The display part 110, the indirect light source 115 and the light guide 116 are made
of translucent materials. The display part 110, the indirect light source 115, and
the light guide 116 use a resin, for example, as the material. Therefore, they can
be manufactured easily and at a low cost. In addition, the display part 110, the indirect
light source 115 and the light guide 116 can easily be formed integrally.
[0049] At least one light source 135 is disposed on the side where the substrate 130 is
in contact with the display part 110. The substrate 130 has a rigid shape or a flexible
shape. The light source 135 is a point light source and is, for example, an LED. Since
the light source 135 is an LED, the light source 135 can be formed relatively inexpensively,
and power consumption can be reduced.
[0050] The sensor housing 140 includes the back surface display part 120 at a position corresponding
to the approximate center. In addition, it is sufficient that the back surface display
part 120 is formed on the back surface B1, and the formation position is not limited.
[0051] As described above, the display part 110 is formed so as to overlap the substrate
130 when viewed in a plan view. Further, it is preferable that the indirect light
source 115 and the light source 135 are formed to be in contact with each other. With
this configuration, light from the light source 135 can directly enter the indirect
light source 115, and the light can be diffused to the display part 110 via the indirect
light source 115 and the light guide 116. In this way, the light guide efficiency
is improved.
[0052] A detailed positional relationship of the sensor 10 and the actuator 20 in contact
with each other will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic
side view of the door switch 1 when the sensor 10 is viewed in a plan view from the
side of the top surface T1.
[0053] The surface S1 of the sensor 10 and the surface S2 of the actuator 20 are disposed
so as to be in contact with each other. That is, the actuator 20 is disposed on the
second direction side of the sensor 10. In addition, since the display part 110 is
formed on the side of the surface S1 of the sensor 10, the display part 110 and the
surface S2 of the actuator 20 are in contact with each other.
[0054] A length of the display part 110 of the sensor 10 in the first direction is defined
as d1. Similarly, a length of the actuator 20 in the first direction is defined as
d2. The relationship between the length d1 and the length d2 can be defined as d1
> d2, for example.
[0055] Thus, for example, even if the sensor 10 is fixed and the actuator 20 is in contact
with any position of the display part 110 in the first direction, the display part
110 can be visually recognized easily.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 2, since the display part 110 is formed so as to cover the outer
edge of the sensor 10, the opposite state of the door switch 1 can be easily determined
according to the light emission of the display part 110.
[0057] In addition, in a general door switch, the sensor 10 and the actuator 20 are disposed
flush with one side face, as shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the visibility of the
display part 110 can also be improved with the above configuration. In this way, it
is easy to accurately dispose the door switch 1 having the display part 110 with good
visibility at a desired position of the door.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 1, a case in which the top surface T1 of the sensor 10 and the top
surface T2 of the actuator 20 are disposed so as to be flush with each other is shown
as an example, but the sensor 10 may be disposed at a position where the opposite
state from the actuator 20 can be detected. In other words, the disposition position
and orientation are not limited.
[0059] In addition, when the surface S1 of the sensor 10 and the surface S2 of the actuator
20 are disposed so as to be contactable with each other, that is, when the distance
between the surface S1 and the surface S2 is within a prescribed range, the sensor
10 and the actuator 20 are in the opposite state. At this time, the door switch 1
is in the closed state.
[0060] Further, when the distance between the surface S1 of the sensor 10 and the surface
S2 of the actuator 20 is out of the prescribed range, the sensor 10 and the actuator
20 are in a non-opposite state. At this time, the door switch 1 is in the open state.
[0061] In the disclosure, the state in which the visibility needs to be improved is the
above-mentioned open state. For example, when a part of the actuator 20 overlaps the
sensor 10, it is difficult to determine whether the door is in the open state or in
the closed state.
[0062] However, by using the above configuration, the opposite state of the door switch
1 can be easily recognized according to the light emitting state of the non-opposite
region R1 of the display part 110, and the visibility is improved. As a result, the
closed state of the door can be reliably visually recognized. On the other hand, even
in the open state of the door, at least a part of the display part 110 can be reliably
visually recognized. Therefore, the open and close of the door can be reliably recognized.
[0063] With reference to FIG. 4, a light emitting structure for further improving the visibility
in the display part 110 of the sensor 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the
space H1 in which the indirect light source 115 is formed is covered by a cover part
150. The cover part 150 may have any shape that covers at least the space H1.
[0064] In addition, the cover part 150 may be formed with, for example, an opaque resin
as the material.
[0065] Light from the light source 135 is the strongest in the indirect light source 115.
The light is diffused and absorbed by a back surface of the cover part 150. The light
diffused by the cover part 150 is guided to the display part 110. Also, by providing
the cover part 150, there is an effect that strong light spots of the light integrated
by the indirect light source 115 can be hidden. As a result, unevenness of the luminance
of the surface S1 of the sensor 10 is reduced, and the display part 110 emits light
uniformly, and the illuminance is improved.
• Configuration Example 2
[0066] Next, an overview of a door switch according to the second embodiment will be described
with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a part of a sensor according
to the second embodiment of the disclosure.
[0067] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the shape of a space H2
and in that a sensor 10A includes a reflection part 160 and that an indirect light
source is not included. The other points are the same as those of the first embodiment,
and descriptions of the same places are omitted.
[0068] The sensor 10A includes the space H2. The reflection part 160 is fitted in the space
H2, that is, the reflection part 160 is included in the space H2.
[0069] In addition, the shape of the space H2 may be a rectangle or an ellipse and may be
in any shape as long as the size and the shape of the space H2 can allow the reflection
part 160 to be formed.
[0070] Therefore, the reflection part 160 reflects light from the light source 135 (not
shown in FIG. 5), and the reflected light is guided to the display part 110.
[0071] As a result, the display part 110 can emit light uniformly and improve illuminance.
[0072] Even in this configuration, the opposite state of the door switch 1 can be easily
recognized according to the light emitting state of the non-opposite region R1 of
the display part 110, thereby improving the visibility. As a result, the closed state
of the door can be reliably visually recognized. On the other hand, even in the open
state of the door, at least a part of the display part 110 can be reliably visually
recognized. Therefore, the open and close of the door can be reliably recognized.
[0073] In this embodiment, a structure without an indirect light source included therein
has been described. However, the same effects can be achieved even with a structure
including an indirect light source.
Description of Reference Numerals
[0074]
B1, B2: Back surface
d1, d2: Length
H1, H2: Space
R1: Non-opposite region
S1, S2: Surface
SR1, SR2: Area
1: Door switch
10, 10A: Sensor
20: Actuator
30: Wiring part
110: Display part
115: Indirect light source
116: Light guide
120: Back surface display part
130: Substrate
135: Light source
140: Sensor housing
150: Cover part
160: Reflection part
1. A door switch (1) comprising an actuator (20) and a sensor (10, 10A), wherein
the door switch (1) is installed so that when a door is closed, a surface (S1) of
the sensor (10, 10A) and an opposite surface (S2) of the actuator (20) are in contact
with or close to each other, and
when the door is open, the surface (S1) of the sensor (10, 10A) and the opposite surface
(S2) of the actuator (20) are separated from each other,
the actuator (20) outputs a detection signal,
a display part (110) for indicating a reception state of the detection signal is formed
on the surface (S1) of the sensor (10, 10A), and
the surface (S1) of the sensor (10, 10A) has a non-opposite region (R1), wherein the
non-opposite region (R1) is at least a part of the display part (110) not opposite
to the opposite surface (S2) of the actuator (20) in the reception state.
2. The door switch (1) according to claim 1, wherein the display part (110) is formed
annularly along at least an outer edge of the surface (S1) of the sensor (10, 10A).
3. The door switch (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sensor (10, 10A)
comprises a light source part (135) inside, and the display part (110) guides light
of the light source part (135).
4. The door switch (1) according to claim 3, wherein the sensor (10, 10A) comprises a
light guide part for guiding the light of the light source part (135) to the display
part (110).
5. The door switch (1) according to claim 4, wherein the sensor (10, 10A) comprises,
on a display part (110) side of the light source part (135) or the light guide part,
a cover part (150) for preventing the light of the light source part (135) from diffusing
to outside.
6. The door switch (1) according to claim 5, wherein the sensor (10A) comprises a reflection
part (160) on a back surface (S1) side of the cover part (150).
7. The door switch (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the display part
(110) is made of a resin.
8. The door switch (1) according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the cover part (150)
is made of a resin.